Subjects: ISIS Brides; Amica Separation Tool.
NAT BARR, HOST: Good morning to you. Is this new Coalition policy something the government would support?
MICHELLE ROWLAND, ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Well, firstly, it's important that we implement the laws that we have. The laws that we have right now are those that were devised under Scott Morrison, which I might also say saw some 40 or so repatriations to Australia, including ISIS fighters. But the reality is this: we need to ensure that Australians have confidence in our intelligence and security agencies, and Australians should. Our agencies are the best in the world. They have been monitoring this cohort for years, and secondly, any proposed laws would obviously need to be done in consultation with our agencies and take their advice. It's not even clear, and I've only obviously seen the reports, I haven't seen precisely what is being proposed, but we also obviously would need to take advice on whether this would be legally valid. We would also need to ensure that any such laws are consistent with our obligations. I think the key thing here is that the opposition, when they were in government, had the opportunity to do these things. They're now throwing out these ideas. We'll continue to take advice from our security agencies because I want to be very clear, these people were told repeatedly not to go to this area. That is why the government has taken the approach that it has.
BARR: So, the opposition says they will help you, they'll support you to tighten the temporary exclusion orders to help keep these people out. Is that possible?
ROWLAND: Well, firstly, the temporary exclusion orders regime needs, again, to be based on security advice, and Minister Burke has already made clear that that's been exercised in relation to one individual. So, we'll continue to take advice from our agencies. But again, I want to reiterate that this is a government that operates in an orderly way, we take advice and we act on it as necessary to keep Australians safe.
BARR: Yes, but he's acting in the current law. As Attorney-General, do you think those exclusion orders can be tightened?
ROWLAND: Well, obviously, we keep in touch with our security agencies and take their advice.
BARR: What are they saying?
ROWLAND: Well, they have given advice in relation to one individual on a temporary exclusion order. We will continue to take their advice and where action is needed, we'll take it.
BARR: But what are they saying? Have you asked them whether the current temporary exclusion orders could be tightened?
ROWLAND: I can't disclose all of that, but what I can tell you is that we continue to be engaged very closely with our agencies and where they give us such advice, we will take it.
BARR: Why can't you disclose whether you've asked them to tighten the exclusion orders, whether that's possible?
ROWLAND: Because you'll appreciate that some of this is done in the context of the National Security Committee of Cabinet, which I'm not permitted to discuss. What I can tell you is that we have absolute confidence in our security agencies and where we are able to disclose more, we will.
BARR: Ok, we'll stand by for that. The Home Affairs Minister is saying that he's powerless to stop them coming in, basically because it is law that they have to return if they're Australian citizens. Do we know if any of them are dual citizens?
ROWLAND: Some of them may be. As Minister Burke said yesterday, the question is there about whether that dual nationality is actually recognised by specific countries. So, that may or may not be the case. But again, as the Minister made very clear, it is the fact under the law that unless there are specific, and they are quite tight rules under the temporary exclusion orders where an Australian citizen seeks to enter Australia, they can. We again will continue to take advice from our agencies in relation to those provisions under passports.
BARR: Okay, what protections are in place when they do eventually arrive?
ROWLAND: Well, I should assure all of your viewers that this is, as I said, a cohort that has been monitored for years by our agencies. Our agencies engage with state law enforcement. That's the way that counterterrorism works in this country. So, provisions have been made between the states and the Commonwealth in the event that they do return. As the Prime Minister has said, in the event that it has been, it is put forward that they have committed crimes, they will be subjected to the full force of the law on their arrival.
BARR: Ok, moving on. Just quickly, this time of year in Australia, we often see a spike in the number of relationship breakdowns, which can often be very expensive, but you are offering a cheaper solution now?
ROWLAND: That's right. I want to tell your viewers about Amica, and Amica is a tool that's supported by the Federal Government. It's been in place for a couple of years and exactly as you say, unfortunately, this time of year is known as divorce season. It's the time of year, going into a new year where people have taken assessments and they decide that they no longer wish to be in a relationship. Obviously this affects children, it affects property, but Amica is an easy to navigate online tool which enables you to generate parenting or property orders for as little as around $300. We know how expensive this can be, this is a really difficult juncture in people's lives. So, Amica, amica.gov.au. I urge your viewers, if they care, to have a look.
BARR: Ok. You know what we'll put that on our website because you're right, it affects a lot of people. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, thank you.
ROWLAND: Pleasure.
